TY - JOUR PY - 2017// TI - "Don't ever give up!" resisting victimhood through self-defense JO - Journal of interpersonal violence A1 - Jordan, Jan A1 - Mossman, Elaine SP - 886260517744760 EP - 886260517744760 VL - ePub IS - ePub N2 - Whether or not women should physically resist a male attacker has been a long-contested issue. This article enters this debate drawing on findings from an evaluation of a feminist self-defense course. It locates these data within a broader historical context to question dominant discourses around ideal femininity and explore the potential for empowerment such courses can offer, particularly for women deemed at high risk. It draws on qualitative data from interviews with course participants ( n = 15), community stakeholders ( n = 15), and self-defense instructors ( n = 7), as well as quantitative data from pre-post course evaluations ( n = 115).

FINDINGS are presented to demonstrate how participants and stakeholders from a diverse range of women's groups experienced the program. Evidence is presented that the participation not only resulted in increased self-defense skills but importantly also the confidence and attitude to put these skills into action, if required. Factors identified as critical to the success of these courses are explored, and the implications are assessed in relation to both prevention and empowerment.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0886-2605 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0886260517744760 ID - ref1 ER -